Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What did your Grandpa do while in the military?

Somewhere around Samoa in WW1 , Family are tryinhg to figure out his service medals as they relate to both maritime and army , somehow

Your grandpa or great-grandpa? Man, I'm old, but you must be ancient. Seriously, my great-grandfather was in the Prussian army as well and fought at the battle of Sedan. I have a cousin whose other greatgrandfather was on the French side.

One of my grandfathers was in the Army during the Spanish-American War. The other was in both WW I and II.

Paul

My maternal pop was a tank crew member, wwII, carried a .45 smg since they fit in tanks easier. Was shot through tank armor in arm. No docs in Africa so patched up it got and on they went. He wouldn't ever talk about wwII. My grandmother made him toss a Nazi rifle he brought back down the outhouse. No running water in their house back then.

Paternal grandfather was an army officer. He's still kicking at age 92. Gave me a couple sporterized 8 mm mausers and an American remington 1903 30/06 sporterized mauser action.

My maternal grandfather was USMC Sgt in Korea. Served in the infantry from 50-51.

My paternal grandfather operated a flamethrower in occupied Japan after WWII.

My maternal grandfather served in a mortar crew with the 86th ID during WWII.

My paternal grandfather was an Army MP guarding prisoners during the Korean War.

My great grandfathers were both farmers and not called up for service in WWI.

My great great grandfathers both served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Well, it depends on which Grandpa you're talking about.

Mom's Dad was born in '02 and grew up on a farm in Brecksville, OH. He joined, and was in camp when the Armistice was signed. They sent him home shortly thereafter. It was in camp that he learned how to smoke cigarettes, and how to dye your blanket with coffee to hide the cigarette burns. He came home, went to Ohio State, played basketball for them for a brief time and was a frat brother of fellow engineering student, Curtis LeMay. They corresponded until LeMay died. Both married and had 1 daughter. Both were successful. LeMay in his trade and Gramps as a VP for Formica and American Cyanamid.

Now Dad's Dad was something else entirely. He was called up in '16 and served the entire war in the infantry. However, his head was too big to fit a gas mask. He spent the entire war being shuttled up to the front, they'd find he could not wear the mask, and they'd send him back to the rear, where he would try to make himself as useful as possible. He was born in Marburg, Germany in '98. His experience was quite different from Mom's Dad. Right after the war ended he married a cute chick from Biedenkopf and they emigrated to Cincinnati in 1923. He he started off as a groundskeeper for Formica co-founder Dan O'Connor. By 1926 he was a millionaire home builder.

I didn't know my Maternal Grandfather well, only met him once. He was Army infantry and earned a bronze star in the battle right before the Battle of the Bulge. Was captured at the Battle of the Bulge, escaped with two others and had to give themselves up instead of freeze to death. Spent six months in a POW Camp. Stayed in the Army and earned another Bronze Star in Korea.

Step-Grandfather (the one I knew) was trained as a ball turret gunner in B-17's and was pulled right after gunnery school in Kingman AZ and sent to flight school. He got his wings in early 44 and spent the rest of the war as an instructor.

My father's Dad was older and between WWI and II and was a bugler and barber in the Florida Guard. Spent time down on the border in Texas and I have a few pictures. By the time WWII started he was too old and worked for Graybar electric.

Belly gunner, shot down and took an unplanned "vacation" in italy.

One tough old SOB that guy was.

Other one was on a big boat...

My grand fathers after basic training, got on a train to Houstan for the trip to France. Unfortunately or fortunately while still at sea 11/11/18 occured and the ship was turned around.

Jim

G G grandfather was wounded at a place called:
Gettysburg. Shot through the leg, he recovered and the gubment gave him $4 for his trouble.

Mother's father was a doughboy and went over the top.
The only story he told me:
He picked up an artillery model Luger. Complete with stock/holster.
And got it all the way to the troop ship home, before an officer took it from him.

My father joined the Army for WWII. Was sent to the South Pacific, fought the Japanese in the Philippines and New Guinea. His Unit received the Presidential Unit Citation for their part in the Battle of Leyte Island.

I have a copy of the folded and aged citation, framed and hanging on my wall. It was written on an old typewriter with some of the letters mis-aligned, and has fold marks in the paper. Every time I think I'm having a tough day, I read it and realize I'm not having a tough day at all.

Man, I love hearing these stories guys! "Thank You" doesn't come close to paying respects for all those that served. My dad served in the Army during WWII under General Patton. Any where Patton went, Dad was there, and quite a few other places too. I know nothing about either of my Grandfather's military service. They were both dead before I was born, and it was never discussed. I am named after my Great Uncle who fought for the Union out of Pennsylvania during the Civil War. He was killed in action-shot off his horse by a sniper. During the course of tracing family history on my mother's side, we found out she had a distant cousin who flew with Baron Von Richthofen during WWI, was a confirmed ace with 7 kills, and was killed in action. It is very impressive to hear all your stories. This is what made us the people and country we are today.

My Grandad served during WWII and Korea.
At age 19 or 20 he was driving a LCVP during D-Day.
I cannot imagine the horrors he saw.
He never spoke about it. Ever.

He later changed branches to the Army retired as a Master Sergeant from the FL National Guard.
He's still the most amazing man I have ever met to this day.

My grandfather joined the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at St Lo, a few weeks(?) after D-Day. He claims to have arrived in Paris, spent the night, and left before the famous "liberation pictures were ever taken. I never heard him utter the word "Hurtgen" but my grandmother told me he was there. The 22nd suffered 80% battle casualties at Hurtgen alone, after which the Regimental Commander reported that "My command no longer exists." The only stories I ever heard my grandfather tell were the funny ones.

One cool thing is that Hemingway adopted that Regiment and my grandfather spent a bit of time with him during the war. A few years ago my dad showed me a cool note that Hemingway wrote to him (he was an infant at the time).

Was part of the Czech mobilization in 1938 to stand up against Germans.

Went back home after Britain and France gave Sudets to Hitler to secure peace for our time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_for_our_time

Didn't help them worth a $hit to stab us in the back.

My grandfather joined the Marines in 1918 and did a little fighting in the Dominican Republic during the Banana Wars.

I have his journal from that time, a flag he carried, his dog tags and medals.

Both my grandfathers were too old for WWI. I had a great uncle in it, but have no info beyond that. My uncle was a medic in WWII and landed with the troops at Normandy. Later transferring to military intelligence, then the CIA.

Same with my dad, most of the stories I heard were from my mom. I do know he always made sure not to use up his last couple of rounds becasue there was no way he was going to be taken alive by the Japanese.

My grandfather and father would never talk about the horrors they saw.

My dad had some brownie snapshots of the aftermath of the Battle for the Aleutians.
Dead Japs in their bunks with rifles in their mouths and toes in the trigger gaurds.
Or halves of them after clutching gernades to their chests.

And the lines of dead after the Banzai charge..
GI's stuck to their knees in the tundra as willowwinds blasted them...

I wonder where those B & W's are...

My Grandfather served in WWII spent some time in Africa, fixing planes among other things.